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Halos nab wide range of talent

Halos nab wide range of talent

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By Lyle Spencer
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MLB.com |

OAKLAND -- Having spent the opening round of the First-Year Player Draft loading up with four quality athletes and one pure-bred pitcher in Cameron Bedrosian, the Angels selected a wide range of talents with their 30 choices Tuesday in rounds 2 through 30.

"We feel like it was a good day," Angels scouting director Eddie Bane said. "Everybody stayed focused, and our national cross-checkers were still fighting for players in the 29th round. But we know how it is. Every team, all 30, thinks they had a great Draft today. That's how you feel."

In the first round, fortified with four additional picks from the free-agent departures of Chone Figgins to Seattle and John Lackey to Boston, the Angels tapped a third baseman (Kaleb Cowart), shortstop (Taylor Lindsey), two center fielders (Chevez Clarke and Ryan Bolden) and right-hander Bedrosian, son of former National League Cy Young Award winner Steve Bedrosian.

The second round, at No. 81 overall, produced another right-handed power pitcher in Daniel Tillman of Florida Southern.

In the third round, Florida high school shortstop Wendell Soto and right-hander Donn Roach from Southern Nevada were intriguing choices by the Angels.

The Draft concludes on Wednesday with rounds 31 through 50, starting at 9 a.m. PT. Fans can follow all of the Angels' picks with the Draft Tracker.

"Tillman has a big arm," Bane said. "He pitched in relief [at Florida Southern]. He's got enough in his repertoire to start. We're not sure if we want to start him or bring him out of the bullpen.

"Wendell Soto [from Riverview High School in Sarasota, Fla.] is a really good-looking shortstop. He's small [at 5-foot-9], but I've seen him dunk a basketball over his head. He has really good hands and quick feet, and he has the ability to stay at shortstop.

"We took Taylor Lindsey primarily because he can really hit. He'll probably have to move to third base or second base. Soto's going to stay at shortstop."

Soto has signed a letter of intent with Florida International University.

Coming from the same school that produced No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper, who is destined to become Stephen Strasburg's teammate in Washington, Roach was drafted for the second time by the Angels. He was taken in 2008 in the 40th round, opting for college ball.

"We took him out of high school and didn't get it done," Bane said. "He wanted to attend the University of Arizona. He went there for a year, and then he wanted to get home to Las Vegas and junior college and get an opportunity in pro ball quicker. He did not have a good year at Arizona but had a great year at Nevada. He throws hard. With the hitters you have in the Major Leagues now, you better throw hard if you're a right-handed pitcher."

Among other notable choices on day two were center fielder Andrew Heid of Gonzaga in the ninth round, right-hander Bryant George (Southern Illinois University, 13th round) and first baseman Brandon Decker of Valdosta State in the 27th round.